So here we are winter has arrived and anglers travel from far wide to find the elusive or hopefully not so much river Mersey cod. Which would be great for sea fishing uk.
You'll hear people talking about best baits rigs, times and spots to target the Mersey cod!
But where is best?
What is the best rig?
What is the best time?
And what baits are going make the Mersey cod jump on your hook?
In my opinion if your fishing the liverpool side. Otterspool prom will give you your best chance of a bigun and if fishing the Wirral side in my opinion the bigger ones come from up Brombourgh ways. Although having said that you do have the famous "cod corner" (Woodside ferry terminal) although be sure to take many leads with you as is it a tackle grave yard. Or maybe you have your secret spots that can produce 😀 we all have a few of them up our sleeve.
So far the biggest I've heard this year off the shore is 3.5lb and to many to count around the 2lb mark.
So what baits are best for the cod? Again in my opinion you can't beat fresh crab and fresh lug (black & normal)
other baits that can produce is rag, maddies, mussels, prawn, squid, razor to name a few.
Be warned though using fish baits and squid you run the potential of getting plagued by dog fish. A fish loved and hated by so many. When fishing a match the angler will pray for one but when pleasure fishing the angler will pray they don't see one 😂 I personally love them but I'm weird, I think they look cute. It's the way they squint their eyes and curl up so vulnerable begging to be left alone and returned to their world safely so they can carry on feeding.
Times now... This all depends on the size of tide and wether it's day or night. You've got to love the flood on a nice small to medium tide (below an 8.5m) first light or going into the darkest. Although having said that lots of cod have been caught as the tide is ebbing (alot of people believe the cod run in up the liverpool side and down the Wirral side).
Rigs you can't go wrong if your fishing big going for a penel rig whether that be a pulley or normal. (Just make sure your baits hard on the bottom). Size 2/0 & 4/0 are my go to if wanting big baits out there.
The whiting are in in force at the minute which is a great sign for the River Mersey.
I'm just hoping a few anglers are lucky enough to catch a prize double figure off the shore this year as I've not heard of one for a good while now.
Off the boat is a different story all together. A few years back the doubles where in in force with the average being around 7lb.
Roll on the winter cod fishing on the river Mersey and tight lines peeps and good luck!!!
I've left a few links to my YouTube channel below all cod related. Some fun on the quiver, one that won us the match and the way I fillet mine.
Cod Hunt On The River Mersey
Filleting a codling #seafishing #fishing
COD FISHING ON THE RIVER MERSEY USING QUIVER TIP #cod #shorefishinguk
Thanks for reading and hopefully watching 🎣🎣🎣
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